James e



.(NcModel.) 1

i J. E.BROWN Drop Light Gasalier.

Patented sept. 2s, 18S-o.

lim-232,592.

...Illl' N'PETERS, PH010-L1TMOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON, D C

. NITED STATES PATJELNTv Brion.

JAMES E. BROWN, OE WILLIAMSBURG, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE PANGOAST,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DROP-LIGHT GASALIER.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,592, datedSeptember 28, 1880.

Application filed May 1, 1880.

My invention has relation bto that class of` illuminating apparatuswherein a drop-light or extending section is employed, ordinarilydenominated drop-light gasaliers or chandeliers; and the invention hasfor its object the provision ofsimple, cheap,and effective means forholding the sliding tube which carries the drop-light in any positionand `against any ordinary wei ght of xtures or accessories likely to beapplied to the said tube, at the same time easily adjustable tocorrespond with such applied weight, and opposing no appreciable eXtraresistance to the upward movementof the tube, to accomplish whichmyimprovenients involve certain new and useful combinations orarrangements of parts and peculiarities `of construction, all of whichwill be hereinafter first fully described, and then pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings, Figure l-is an axial section of so much of a chandelieror gasalier as is necessary for the present description, showing myimproved form of clamp applied to the central or movable tube thereof,and in the position it assumes when the central tube is being depressed.Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, having a portion of the wall ofthe case broken away, and showing the position which the' clamp assumeswhen the movable tube is being elevated. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionupon a plane passing just above the pins c and d, and Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the clampingblocks as they appear when detached fromother parts of the structure.

Like letters of reference wherever they occur indicate correspondingparts in all the gures.

A is the main or stationary pipe, within which pipe B, which is intendedto support 50 the drop-light, is made adjustable.

(No model.)

'connected with pipe A in any preferred manner. Y D D are twoclamping-blocks, which afford the requisite pressure and frictionagainst the sliding pipe B.

For `covering the faces of the blocks l employ a strip of ordinaryfelting, as at a., which is `found to afford all the desired frictionwithout danger of slipping, to permit the tube B 6o to be drawn downeasily against the action of the blocks, to readily release the tubewhen pushed upwardly, and by reason of its yielding nature' to admit anyinequalities on the surface of tube B to pass through the clampingmechanism smoothly, and without creatiug those sudden interruptionsoriregularities in the movement which are noticeable in many previousconstructions when substances other than felt are employed. Leather hasbeen 7o heretofore commonly employed in similar situations, but does notpossess any of these desired characteristics. The felting a is securedin place by slight projections b, preferably cast upon the blocks, andthis method of attaching it possesses several advantages over thecementing or gluing processes heretofore followed in connection withleather andrubber strips, inasmuch as it is less liable to dislocationor disarrangement, may be readily re- 8o moved and replaced by a newpiece, and is more easily fixed in place. All that is necessary is toproperly place the strip over the pinsb and strike it with a hammer,when it will be forced down upon the pins.

The blocks D are each provided with a metallic ring or loop, Gr, hingedthereon and eX- tending through a perforation in the shell or case C,which perforation is fitted with a re cessed screw-plug,H, as plainlyshown. Upon 9o the side of each block are projecting pins c d c, one ofwhich, e, is bent upon the material of the ring and maintains it againstdisarrangement. The others, c and d, located above the ring Gr, bea-rupon the upper surface, and are sufficiently long to prevent the blocksfrom descending so far as to carry the rings or loops below thehorizontal. The rings G form the levers through which the requisitepressure is obtained, and they mo are made elastic so as to yield alittle to the strain produced by any effort to draw tube B down, and atthe same time they are rigid enough to afford all the desiredresistance.

The pressure upon the blocks, and consequently the friction upon thesliding pipe, may be easily regulated by turning the screw-plugs H,which adjust the rings with respect to the blocks.

The lower plate, I, when in place, prevents the possibility ofthe blocksbeing withdrawn by any eXtra strain which might be applied, and theblocks should be arranged so as to touch this plate when in theirlowermost position. Ot course the blocks should be disposed about thesliding tube in such a manner as to allow said tube to pass betweenthem, when moving either up or down, without bearing. against the wallsof the perforation in plate I. This may all be accomplished by suitablemanipulation of screw-plugs H.

The clamping mechanism being constructed and organized substantiallyinaccordance'with the foregoing explanations and applied inthe mannerindicated, it is apparent that as the tube descends the friction againstthe blocks tends to carry thenbdown with the tube, and thus to bring theloops or rings G more and more nearly to a horizontal position, in whichposition they produce the greatest pressure. The rings being preventedfrom descending below the horizontal plane through the axes ofscrew-plugs H, it is plain that whenever the tube B is pushed upwardlythe blocks D will be carried up with it, and thus the pressure andfriction upon the tube instantly released, which leaves only the weightof said tube and its appendages to be overcome or elevated.

The clamping-blocks are located in shell (l in such relation withrespect to plate I that when the extension is being depressed said platewill prevent the possibility of the blocks D being pulled down too far.

Instead of a square or angular tube, B, being employed, as indicated inthe drawings, any cylindrical or other form may be used in connectionwith my improved clamping mech- `anism, it being only necessary' to makethe to prevent leakage. For other lights than gas-lights, as lamps,Sto., instead of the tube B a solid rod might be employed, if desired.

The elastic levers or rings connected with the clamping-blocks, thesmoothness of descent provided for the ready regulation of the degree offriction to correspond with the weight to be supported, and theinstantaneous release of the sliding pipe upon being elevated, all tendto render the improved device applicable to large and small or heavy andlight gasaliers, and when constructed and arranged substantially inaccordance with the foregoing description the improvements admirablyanswer the several purposes and objects of the invention, as previouslystated.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a drop-light chandelier or gasalier of the character hereinspecified, the combination, with the sliding pipe or rod carrying thedroplight, of the clamping-blocks adapted to bear against the same, eachblock being faced with a strip of felting secured thereon by projectingpins b b, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a drop-light gasalier or chandelier, the combination, with thecasing which incloses the clamping mechanism, of the hollow screwplugsH, adapted to adjust the holding-levers with respect to the sliding`pipe or rod7 substantially as shown and described.

3. In combination with the clamping-blocks, thc adjustable levers G, inthe form of elastic rings or loops, the same being hinged to the blocksbetween the projections upon said blocks, substantially as shown anddescribed.

4. In combination with the clamping-blocks and the levers hingedthereon, theprojections c d, adapted to bear upon the upper surfaces ofthe levers and to prevent said levers from being forced down to aposition below the horizontal, substantially as shown and described. v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand inthe presence of two witnesses.

JAMES E. BROWN.

Witnesses:

WoR'rH OsGooD, ARTHUR M. PIERCE.

